The Demonic Supreme Sword Novel - Chapter 96

Chapter 96
## Chapter: 96

## Chapter Title: Drawing the Big Picture (2)

—

“Are you claiming this Sima Geon lunatic is actually targeting us?”

The leader of Hongik Hall, Yu Han, questioned him with a face twisted by annoyance.

His skin looked sallow and unhealthy, likely a consequence of a night spent drowning in alcohol.

“It is certain. We have verified his approach; he is traveling with Cheol Woo and one additional subordinate.”

Yu Wol’s tone was laced with anxiety, his memory still haunted by the terrifying display Sima Geon’s team had put on at Songmyeongdo.

“And you expect us to flee like cowards because of just three individuals?”

Yu Han, who commanded a sovereign-like influence over the waters of Poyang Lake, found Yu Wol’s state of alarm utterly baffling.

“They are far from ordinary. Did my account of the events at Songmyeongdo mean nothing?”

Yu Wol’s demeanor had shifted entirely. As he stood tall and spoke with increasing volume, even Yu Han began to show a flicker of genuine concern.

“I assumed your report was somewhat embellished.”

“What motive would I have to lie? They are the real thing. It isn’t just Songmyeongdo either—consider the recent news. The Heavenly Demon Cult launched an assault against them and was completely annihilated. We aren’t sure of their numbers, but the fact that Lord Juyu Geolgoe himself was caught in the carnage and slain suggests they sent a significant force.”

“I am aware of that. The Murim Alliance is in a state of chaos over the matter, correct?”

“Precisely.”

“I see. So they are the genuine article, and we are their marks.”

Yu Han contemplated the situation for a moment, his gaze turning icy as he inquired,

“If we chose to stand our ground and fight, what outcome do you predict?”

Yu Wol responded instantly, the answer having been clear in his mind for some time.

“We would be slaughtered to the last man.”

The surrounding lieutenants didn’t hide their scorn at Yu Wol’s assessment.

“Isn’t that a bit of a stretch, Deputy Leader?”

“Hongik Hall is not some fragile organization.”

“Consider the strength of our internal guard, plus the reinforcements that would swarm in from the neighboring water forts if we raised the alarm. No matter their individual prowess, they couldn’t possibly survive a siege of that scale.”

Watching them dismiss the threat of Sima Geon’s trio, Yu Wol could only let out a silent, weary sigh.

*Ignorant fools.*

This was a repeat of his experience explaining the disaster at Songmyeongdo. Some had even whispered behind his back that he was spinning tall tales to excuse his inability to bring back the expected tribute.

“It is exhausting to repeat myself, but I will say it one more time. When we faced the experts of the Red Dragon Gang at Songmyeongdo, the sheer pressure nearly stopped my heart. Merely being in their presence made my skin crawl and the sweat run cold. Their underlings were seasoned fighters, too. Yet, against those three, they were nothing more than wooden targets. You call it an exaggeration? Had you witnessed them systematically butcher the slave traffickers and the Red Dragon Gang warriors gathered there, you wouldn’t be standing here with such hollow confidence.”

Despite Yu Wol’s passionate warning, the room remained indifferent. Eventually, Chief Steward I Ja Gon broke the silence.

“There is no hyperbole in the Deputy Leader’s account. If anything, there are horrors he likely lacks the words to describe. They were truly that monstrous.”

Even with the normally level-headed I Ja Gon providing backup for Yu Wol, the skepticism remained thick in the air.

“I’m not suggesting the Deputy Leader is lying. However, we cannot simply desert our post and run.”

“I agree. If we abandon our headquarters without even attempting a defense, our reputation as heroes would be finished.”

The leadership of Hongik Hall continued to throw out every justification they could find to counter Yu Wol’s warnings.

Unable to mask his boiling rage, Yu Wol’s face flushed with anger until Yu Han spoke once more.

“What if we summoned support from the surrounding water forts?”

“The issue isn’t a lack of bodies. We need masters capable of holding a line against them.”

Yu Wol’s voice was becoming sharper and more combative.

“If you searched the entire Yangtze Waterway Alliance, how many warriors could actually stand toe-to-toe with them? Maybe a tiny few. And even then, victory is far from a guarantee.”

“I understand.”

“Then you must understand that fighting them is a death sentence.”

Yu Wol’s conviction was absolute.

Yu Han squeezed his eyes shut. His fingers began a rhythmic, steady tapping against the armrest of his chair.

The room fell into a heavy silence; everyone recognized this gesture as his habit when weighing a monumental choice.

After a long silence, Yu Han finally rendered his verdict.

“We relocate to Gunsan.”

“Leader!”

“I beg you to rethink this!”

“How can we hold our heads high if we run from a mere three men?”

A wave of fierce protest broke out, but Yu Han, his mind now set, waved a hand to silence them.

“When do you calculate their arrival?”

Yu Han directed his question to Yu Wol.

“If they cross through the mountains, it could be as soon as two days, three at the most.”

“And if they take the long way around the peaks?”

“It would add an extra two days, but…”

“They won’t waste time on a detour when a direct path exists. It will be a grueling trek, but…”

“That is what we must assume.”

“Understood. We depart tomorrow afternoon. Begin the preparations immediately.”

Yu Wol bowed and left the room at once, terrified that Yu Han might find an excuse to reverse the order. I Ja Gon followed closely behind, sharing the same fear.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“Haa! Haa!”

Manchu, struggling at the tail end of the group as they scaled the steep mountain, was gasping for air. The sweat that had been pouring off him like a rainstorm had evaporated, leaving behind crusty white patches of salt on his skin.

*I have lost my mind. Why on earth did I agree to follow them?*

The various motivations that had led him to join Sima Geon’s party had been burned away by exhaustion. All that lived in his mind now was a deep, crushing sense of regret.

“W-Water…”

His throat felt like it was filled with hot ash. He reached for his canteen, but it had been dry for hours.

Noejeon, who was maintaining a lead ahead of him, glanced back at the sound of Manchu’s croak.

While he looked in better shape than Manchu, the fatigue was clearly etched onto his face as well.

“Are you holding up?”

“I-I’m okay. But I need water…”

“I knew this would happen when you were gulping it down earlier. I warned you to just take small sips.”

Though Noejeon grumbled, he unfastened his own waterskin and tossed it back.

“Th-Thank you…”

Manchu barely finished the sentence before he was pressing the opening to his lips.

“Easy now, just dampen your thro—hey!”

Noejeon darted back to reclaim the skin, but the water was already gone.

“Boss, these two are never going to learn.”

Cheol Woo looked back with a look of mild disgust.

Though his brow was wet with sweat, he didn’t seem to be suffering from any real weariness, unlike Noejeon and Manchu.

“Once we reach the top of this ridge, we’ll find the clearing that hunter mentioned. We’re stopping for the night anyway, so let’s finish this stretch.”

“Understood.”

Cheol Woo gave a short nod, then turned his voice into a thunderous bark directed at the two stragglers.

“Get your legs moving! And Noejeon, you’re tripping over your own feet at this pace? Are you slacking off?”

“Not a chance. I’m just staying back to keep an eye on this one—he looked like he was about to keel over.”

Despite his excuse, Noejeon surged forward with a burst of speed, though his face was pulled into a grimace.

Leaning toward Cheol Woo, he muttered in a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.

“This is going to be the death of me. Even the drills back in Black Dragon Valley weren’t this grueling.”

“This is your training, so stop complaining and keep up. Your performance has been lacking lately too.”

With that, Cheol Woo turned his attention back to Sima Geon, who was already further up the trail.

“Haa, I’m going to lose my sanity.”

Noejeon rolled his eyes but didn’t stop moving.

“N-Now?”

“Yes. Drunken Immortal Step and Prison Breaking Fist.”

“C-Can’t we have just a moment of rest first?”

Manchu’s voice was a desperate plea.

“No.”

Sima Geon’s refusal was cold and immediate.

Manchu’s shoulders slumped, and he began to lurch forward on legs that wouldn’t stop shaking.

A step to the left, then the right. Then a diagonal lunge.

He followed the fundamental movements of the Drunken Immortal Step.

He was swaying.

It was hard to tell if his torso was failing to track his feet or if his feet were struggling to support his weight. Regardless, Manchu’s entire frame was vibrating with far more instability than the technique required.

“He wasn’t this messy before. His top half and bottom half are totally disconnected.”

Cheol Woo watched the display, his eyes wide with morbid fascination.

“Yeah. He’s struggling to adjust. His form looks worse than it did yesterday.”

Noejeon blinked rapidly and looked away, feeling a bit seasick just watching Manchu’s erratic footwork.

“Move faster.”

“Your direction is wrong. Your torso can tilt, but your feet must be precise.”

“You’re holding too much tension in your shoulders.”

“How long are you going to just flail around? Focus your energy at the point of impact.”

“Stop fighting the movement. Let your limbs follow the lead of your feet.”

“Do you call that the Prison Breaking Fist? That wouldn’t break a twig, much less a cell door.”

Sima Geon’s voice was a constant, driving force, pushing Manchu without a second of relief.

One hour passed, then two, then three.

Manchu, who had been running on fumes from the start, felt his consciousness beginning to blur as the sun moved.

He was no longer aware of whether he was correctly applying the footwork of the Drunken Immortal Step or properly channeling the Prison Breaking Fist—the most fundamental art of the Beggar Clan that he should have been able to do in his sleep. He simply existed in a cycle of instinctive repetition.

Cheol Woo gave Noejeon a little nudge in the ribs.

“Hey, look at him. I don’t think he even knows where he is anymore.”

“You’re right. He’s entered a state of no-mind.”

Noejeon’s voice held a trace of genuine admiration.

As a practitioner of the martial arts, he was well aware of how difficult and significant it was to achieve a state of no-mind during a training session.

“Noejeon.”

Sima Geon spoke without shifting his gaze from Manchu’s movements.

“Engage him. But keep your strength in check.”

“Got it.”

Noejeon acted immediately, as if he had been waiting for the prompt.

He closed the distance to Manchu and threw a straightforward punch.

The blow hit nothing—Manchu had instinctively spiraled out of the way.

“Well now!”

Noejeon’s eyes lit up with excitement, and he began to follow up with a more complex series of strikes.

Noejeon’s attacks were fast and lethal.

Manchu countered them with what looked like wild, chaotic flailing.

It was a strange rhythm—simultaneously sluggish and lightning-quick.

His swaying arms moved in bizarre, unpredictable patterns that somehow remained perfectly synchronized with his feet.

To everyone’s surprise, the majority of Noejeon’s strikes failed to connect. They were repeatedly deflected or neutralized by what appeared to be a very clumsy version of the Prison Breaking Fist.

“Only five days of this and he’s already at this level? Is the Boss that good of a teacher, or is the kid just a natural genius?”

“Teaching? All I did was force him to stop tensing up. This is his own capability. It seems Lord Juyu Geolgoe had a sharp eye for potential.”

Sima Geon had certainly offered advice on the Drunken Immortal Step and Prison Breaking Fist whenever they stopped. However, the speed at which Manchu was integrating those lessons was a result of raw talent—and he had an abundance of it.

“But is he still unconscious of what he’s doing?”

Cheol Woo asked, still stunned by the boy’s fluidity.

“Most likely. That is the only reason he can still move. If he were conscious of his fatigue, he would have collapsed a long time ago.”

As if he had heard Sima Geon’s voice, Manchu suddenly blinked, lost his rhythm against Noejeon’s next move, and fell flat on his face.

“Hey, are you alright?”

Noejeon hurried to his side, feeling a bit guilty. Manchu didn’t move or make a sound.

“Did he lose consciousness?”

After a quick check, Noejeon looked back at the others with a bewildered expression.

“No. He’s just lying there.”